Tag: Pop Culture Cartoon

Long Island Medium & Hairspray

Today’s cartoon stars Theresa Caputo, better known on TLC as the Long Island Medium. Sure we have seen tv psychics come and go: John Edwards, Sylvia Browne and of course my favorite Ms Cleo.

First of all let me say I am a:

Optimistic Skeptic

I don’t believe in psychics but I would love to find proof for myself of life beyond this one. But I have to say, I am impressed by Theresa. Not because of her abilities so much because as always on TV, we don’t know what is cut. But rather her over the top personality and the melding of her family (and husband Larry or as she in her Long Island accent says “Laaarrrry”) into the show.

Of course one recurring theme is Theresa’s overuse of hairspray. My wife used to overdo the hairspray. She has since dropped her usage to about 1/4 of what she used in the past. I think (and she agrees) that her hair and she looks even better now than when I met her. So put it down Teresa!!!

I know there are skeptics who think that all mediums do harm to those they read by taking advantage of their grief. I take a less harsh view. I think those who would continually try to profit on the sorrow of a grieving person should be called out. However, if a person has the ability to make you feel better about the loss of a loved one in one session, how is that different than going to see a psychologist? Sadly, I think there are those who are addicted to mediums and are constantly looking for answers.

What say you? Believe in spirits, mediums, good/bad?

October 17, 2012
William Shatner Depantsed by TSA

The Cartoonist Studio Editorial Cartoon Contest continues and I made it to week NINE!! So I am almost done asking for votes. Thanks to all for voting. Click the image above or here to go to the voting. You should do a search of “Bearman” and my cartoon will come up front and center and then vote. Again, as long as I stay in the contest, there will be two editorial cartoons a week to vote on – Mondays and Thursdays. Oh and you can vote multiple times in each round if you want (resets every six hours) until EOD Tuesday.

____________________________________________________________________

A little humor for the week prompted today’s editorial cartoon. It seems actor William Shatner (Star Trek, TJ Hooker, Priceline Negotiator) has a little embarrassing moment with TSA agents at LAX. He was going on an international flight out of LAX and as he relates it, he didn’t want to be wearing anything binding…so he went to the airport in loose clothing and NO UNDERWEAR. Shatner, who had a hip replacement always sets the metal detector off and has to have extra security pat downs. Well it seems an inexperienced TSA agent got the “short stick” and was a little aggressive in his work causing Shatner’s proton torpedo to be visible to everyone in airport security.

See the video of Shatner relaying the experience to Craig Ferguson.

August 6, 2012
Editorial Cartoon: Obama and Romney Censor Reporters

The Cartoonist Studio Editorial Cartoon Contest continues and I made it to week SIX! Thanks to all for voting. Click the image above or here to go to the voting. You should do a search of “Bearman” and my cartoon will come up front and center and then vote. Some people were clicking the link and then accidentally voting on the first thing that popped up. Unfortunately no way to direct link to my cartoon. Again, as long as I stay in the contest, there will be two editorial cartoons a week to vote on – Mondays and Thursdays. Oh and you can vote multiple times in each round if you want (resets every six hours) until EOD Saturday.

____________________________________________________________________

Today’s editorial cartoon was inspired by an article in the New York Times, that said that in exchange for access to the candidates or their campaign advisors, the media/reporters must provide any on the record quotes to the campaigns to censor or redact. So essentially if I am a reporter for the Times, in order to be able to talk on the record with either candidates advisors, I have to agree to send them the quotes I want to use in my story and allow them to agree to them, remove them completely or just remove certain words. Any reporter that fails to do so is left out in the cold when it comes to top level meetings including those with the candidates.

WHAT?? Ridiculous. At the point that an entity can determine the course of a story it is no longer reporting, it is PR!!! Shame on any media outlet who agrees to abide by these rules.

_______________________________________________________________

BONUS TOON:

Normally I would post this cartoon as a regularly scheduled update. But since I am in the middle of the editorial cartoon contest, I didn’t think it would fit in. But sharing it with you anyway given the timing of the latest Batman movie coming out “The Dark Knight Rises” Of course I had to go there with the title – Erectile Dysfunction.

July 19, 2012
Tom and Katie Jump the Couch

The Cartoonist Studio Editorial Cartoon Contest continues and I made it to week FIVE! Thanks to all for voting. Click the image above or here to go to the voting. You should do a search of “Bearman” and my cartoon will come up front and center and then vote. Some people were clicking the link and then accidentally voting on the first thing that popped up. Unfortunately no way to direct link to my cartoon. Again, as long as I stay in the contest, there will be two editorial cartoons a week to vote on – Mondays and Thursdays. Oh and you can vote multiple times in each round if you want (resets every six hours) until EOD Tuesday.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Today’s editorial cartoon marks a sad week in celebrity news. The breakup of the marriage of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. No one saw it coming several years ago when Tom Cruise jumped Oprah’s couch. It spawned a new Urban Dictionary phrase: “jump the couch” now means the “defining moment when someone has gone off the deep end.”

On the surface it seemed like a fairly strong marriage (for Hollywood standards), though it appears on the surface that Katie didn’t fully embrace the Scientology lifestyle that Tom is fully into. Not surprising as couples tend to divorce many times because of issues related to money or religion. Suri is of the age where she could be sent to Scientology schools. Katie may have rejected that and thus why she is seeking sole custody so she can choose what kind of school Suri is exposed to. One former Scientologist explained it to the Hollywood Reporter as “”By filing for sole custody of Suri, she’s making it very clear she’s not going to let what happened with Nicole Kidman happen to her.”

I personally don’t know enough about Scientology to say whether or not it should actually be considered a religion. Though several countries will not offer religious status including tax non profit status. My feeling is whatever your religious (or non religious) beliefs are, are really none of my business for the most part. Though I have two things I don’t understand about Scientology.

1. Why aren’t the teachings open? I could study Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or Atheism all from published bibles/books. Yet beyond some Dianetics books, the “church” only reveals more details about it’s beliefs the more you move up to higher levels of belief….however,

2. It ain’t cheap. In order to move to higher levels you have to have money. So you can’t be a poor Scientologist. Sure other religions want you to donate or tithe but honestly you don’t have to in order to fully understand the teachings.

What do you think?

July 9, 2012
Richie Rich and the 99%

Story by Dan Soto. Another ToonMZ parody exclusive. What happens when Richie Rich gets older and fat? Probably this.

Capitol Hill
Washington, DC

At the behest of key Republican Senators, Richie Rich, the world’s richest kid, flew to Capitol Hill yesterday to testify before the Senate on behalf of the 1%. With his best friend, his dog, Dollar, sitting faithfully beside him, Richie adamantly defended the 1%.

“I made my money the old fashioned way” he exclaimed in his unmistakable high-pitched voice. “I inherited it!” He went on to explain, “These 99%-ers have no idea how hard it was on me growing up with the unlimited amount of money I had at my disposal. I’ve earned the right to be proud of my 1% status. That’s something you 99%-ers will never, ever understand. Right, dollar?”

After the Senate hearing, Richie flew all Senators and staff members to Disney World in Paris for fun, games and dinner with Mickey and Minnie.

April 25, 2012
Editorial Cartoon: Hugh Hefner Runaway Bride

So poor old Hugh Hefner, of Playboy Magazine fame, was left standing at the altar by his fiance Crystal Harris days before their wedding. Ok he might not have actually been standing at the altar already but you know how old people like to get places early.   Crystal appears in the upcoming edition of Playboy as “Mrs Crystal Hefner” ooops. According to TMZ, Hef is putting a sticker on all news-stand editions that say “Runaway Bride in this issue”.

Being the consummate playboy that he is, I predicted that it wouldn’t take long for Hef to rebound given he lives in a place with half naked women busting about. I just didn’t realize how quickly the old captain would move when I drew this cartoon on Thursday night.   So imagine my surprise yesterday to see the lastest from TMZ that the octogenarian (as opposed to octomom) has another 25 year old sharing his bed – Anna Sophia Berglund.

My favorite line from Crystal on the break up was “This isn’t the lifestyle for me. Multiple girls around all the time. The Playboy lifestyle. I just wanted to be true to myself.”  As if she didn’t know walking into the relationship.

June 19, 2011
Pop Culture Cartoon: Ashton Kutcher on 2 1/2 Men

So Ashton Kutcher has been added to replace Charlie Sheen on the popular Two and a Half Men series. According to reports, he will be given his own character versus taking the role Charlie played.

I don’t watch the show but obviously there are tons of people who do. Anyone planning to start or stop watching because of the switch?

Charity Challenge continues. See how you can help by clicking below.

May 15, 2011